Indian
Wallpaper Sample
ca. 1868-70 (made)
ca. 1868-70 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Object Type
In Britain, paper printed with patterns has been used for decorating walls since the 16th century. By the late 19th century wallpapers were widely used by all classes, both in homes and in public buildings.
Design & Designing
The pattern of this Morris & Co. wallpaper is said to have been adapted from an early 18th-century wallpaper by an unknown designer. The source for this earlier paper was an Indian chintz (painted or printed cotton) pattern. There has always been a close relationship between wallpapers and textiles: in the 18th century wallpapers were designed to imitate the patterns and even the textures of embroideries, silks, brocades and velvets and other fabrics.
People
Although this wallpaper was produced by the company of William Morris, it was not designed by Morris himself. A letter from Morris's business manager suggests that this paper was the work of the architect George Gilbert Scott (1839-1897). In 1874 Scott was one of the founders of Watts & Co, a company which issued some wallpapers in a similar style.
In Britain, paper printed with patterns has been used for decorating walls since the 16th century. By the late 19th century wallpapers were widely used by all classes, both in homes and in public buildings.
Design & Designing
The pattern of this Morris & Co. wallpaper is said to have been adapted from an early 18th-century wallpaper by an unknown designer. The source for this earlier paper was an Indian chintz (painted or printed cotton) pattern. There has always been a close relationship between wallpapers and textiles: in the 18th century wallpapers were designed to imitate the patterns and even the textures of embroideries, silks, brocades and velvets and other fabrics.
People
Although this wallpaper was produced by the company of William Morris, it was not designed by Morris himself. A letter from Morris's business manager suggests that this paper was the work of the architect George Gilbert Scott (1839-1897). In 1874 Scott was one of the founders of Watts & Co, a company which issued some wallpapers in a similar style.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Indian (manufacturer's title) |
| Materials and techniques | Colour woodblock print on paper |
| Brief description | Specimen of 'Indian' wallpaper, a formalised foliate design, brown on a pink ground; Colour woodblock print in distemper, on paper; Possibly designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott; Published by Morris & Co.; Printed by Jeffrey & Co.; Part of a pattern book of 23 Morris & Co. patterns (E.3698-3704, 3706-3718, 3720-3722-1927); England; 1868-70. |
| Physical description | Specimen of 'Indian' wallpaper, a formalised foliate design, brown on a pink ground; Colour woodblock print in distemper, on paper; Inscribed on the back in ink with title, number etc. Part of a pattern book containing 23 Morris & Co. patterns (E.3698-3704, 3706-3718, 3720-3722-1927). |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Marks and inscriptions | (Inscribed on the back in ink with title, number etc.) |
| Gallery label |
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| Credit line | Bequeathed by J. R. Holliday |
| Object history | Originally in a volume, this paper was part of a set that was split up, E.3705, 3719-1927 are missing. The source of this pattern was described in 1884 as an 'early 18th-century' wallpaper. This was in turn based on an Indian chintz. Several wallpapers adapted from earlier examples were designed and printed for Morris & Co. Although this wallpaper was produced by the company of William Morris, it was not designed by Morris himself. A letter from Morris's business manager suggests that this paper was the work of the architect George Gilbert Scott (1839-1897). In 1874 Scott was one of the founders of Watts & Co, a company which issued some wallpapers in a similar style. |
| Production | Part of a pattern book containing 23 Morris & Co. patterns (E.3698-3704, 3706-3718, 3720-3722-1927). |
| Summary | Object Type In Britain, paper printed with patterns has been used for decorating walls since the 16th century. By the late 19th century wallpapers were widely used by all classes, both in homes and in public buildings. Design & Designing The pattern of this Morris & Co. wallpaper is said to have been adapted from an early 18th-century wallpaper by an unknown designer. The source for this earlier paper was an Indian chintz (painted or printed cotton) pattern. There has always been a close relationship between wallpapers and textiles: in the 18th century wallpapers were designed to imitate the patterns and even the textures of embroideries, silks, brocades and velvets and other fabrics. People Although this wallpaper was produced by the company of William Morris, it was not designed by Morris himself. A letter from Morris's business manager suggests that this paper was the work of the architect George Gilbert Scott (1839-1897). In 1874 Scott was one of the founders of Watts & Co, a company which issued some wallpapers in a similar style. |
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| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | E.3706-1927 |
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| Record created | March 27, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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